Fossil fuels and carbon dioxide capture and storage

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is threefold. First, it aims to provide a systematic overview of the fossil fuels spectrum and the technologies used for fossil fuel-based power production, including their current status and key constraints. Secondly, this chapter aims to provide a review of the potential environmental impacts and trade-offs reported in literature. Energy is central to addressing the major challenges of the twenty first century: climate change, poverty, economic and social development. Historically, most of the world's energy requirements have been supplied by fossil fuels (about 81 per cent of the world's primary fuel mix in 2010) and it is expected that they will continue to play a major role in the coming decades. For instance, in its 2013 World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicates that fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas) will remain the dominant sources of energy until 2035 with shares of about 80 per cent in the Current Policies Scenario and 64 per cent in the 450 ppm scenario (IEA, 2013).